tom baxter - tell her today (video premiere)

tom baxter - tell her today [link 2]
[i was initially on the fence with this song only cause the initial structure (and lyrics) of the tune borders of twee, then the song transforms into a glorious musical celebration with spanish/argentine leanings. it's worth the patience cause i'm in love with this song now!]

tom baxter - better (video premiere)

tom baxter - better [link 2]
[i downloaded tom baxter's self released album skybound off itunes awhile back and waited with baited breath for the moment that he would put out the soppy, but beautiful, ballad you hear above. weirdly enough, the release of run fat boy run didn't expedite things either (it was the theme song), so imagine my surprise when i saw this lovely ditty in my inbox this afternoon! i swear that weddings will be using this song for years to come! yeah!]

live performance: tom baxter (live @ the amadeus theatre)

british singer/songwriter (and major cutie patootie) tom baxter first made an impression with me a few years back with his debut album feathers and stone.

with an amazing voice that is at once superbly controlled and goosebump-ily soaring, comparisons to jeff buckley and nick drake during the beginning of his career were common. but these days, tom baxter seems to have come into his own.

earlier this year, tom left his record label and decided to independently release his latest album skybound. recorded live over an intense 5 day period, the emotionally dense album is only available on itunes until it's official release date in september.

but before you do anything, take a look at some clips from tom's benefit concert for the amadeus theatre late last year. performing with his new band and previewing tracks from the album skybound, you're gonna love these!

tom baxter - believe (live @ the amadeus)
[this song is just gorgeous. no wonder the comparisons to jeff buckley are frequent.]


tom baxter - miracle (live @ the amadeus) [link 2]
[this song is so ready to be a part of a soundtrack, or at least grey's anatomy.]


tom baxter - better (live @ the amadeus theatre) [link 2]
[this is tom's new single and theme to the upcoming simon pegg comedy run fatboy run. isn't it just swoonilicious!]


tom baxter - my declaration (live on jools holland) [link 2]
[check out this beautiful song that first introduced me to tom. taken from his debut album feather and stone, this is a wonderful performance as seen on later with jools holland.]

new music wednesday: spoon, napoleon, great northern, the thrills, mika & beth ditto, calvin harris

spoon - underdog [link 2]
[the 1st video from spoon's 6th album release ga ga ga ga ga. personally, this is one of my favorite albums of the summer and i'm so happy that these austin rockers are getting the widespread props that they so deserve.]


napoleon - cleopatra


napoleon - i love my baby (but if anyone touches her i'll kill them) [link 2]
[calling themselves a swedish soul band, this 11 piece posse is going to be making waves throughout the summer as the happy birds to beat. due for US release later in the year, i jump the queue and tip you guys on this fun lighthearted band now! big thanks to ifmv and #1 hits for an alien planet for the intro!]


great northern - home [link 2]
[who knew that LA could be home to this lush indie pop quartet? initially recorded on 4 tracks, the band went through various incarnations before ending up with a four piece that could generate this dreamy sound. if you like what you hear, check out their debut album trading twilight for daylight out now.]


the thrills - nothing changes around here [link 2]
[the 1st video taken off of their upcoming album teenager. though the irish quintet have claimed neil young and the beach boys as past influences, this single sounds more like prefab sprout with a bit of seaside morrissey thrown in (i just made that term up, you like?)]


mika & beth ditto - sweet dreams are made of this (live)
[after a week of talking about it to the press, mika and beth ditto (gossip) finally combine their talents for an unfortunately lame duet of the eurythmics classic. add to the fact that mika totally hogs the vocals, i'm not quite sure i'd want to hear another collaboration in the future.]


calvin harris - merrymaking at my place
[um... this is sound of crap! i don't really understand how he's managed to get any play in the uk, but hopefully it will just end there.]